COL's Three-year Plan, 2000 - 2003, presented here is guided by Commonwealth Heads of Government who, at their meeting in Durban, South Africa, spotlighted the human dimension of globalisation. Their Fancourt Commonwealth Declaration on Globalisation and People-centred Development recognised that the revolution in communications technologies is providing new opportunities for the transfer of knowledge and the development of skills-based industries. It also reaffirmed the vital role the Commonwealth must play in providing practical assistance to promote people-centred development.
The Plan's strategic focus is on four core roles for COL:
- As a catalyst for collaborative action;
- As a resource for training;
- As a capacity builder; and
- As an information and knowledge provider.
Forward 2000-2003
At its 16th Meeting in May 2000, the Board of Governors of The Commonwealth of Learning considered a report from the President, which provided a reflection on the agency's first ten years of work (1989-1999). We were impressed by the significant impact that this small Commonwealth organisation has had on the education and training landscape of the Commonwealth.
Through advocacy, advisories, training, information provision, institutional strengthening, model building, consultation, conferences, professional development, policy support, partnership brokering and networking, COL has been instrumental in promoting, supporting, advancing and enriching the practice of distance and open learning throughout the Commonwealth. Its influence and impact is evident in a variety of ways including the migration of the practice from the periphery of educational delivery to the centre. More importantly, COL has been instrumental in reshaping thinking. As a consequence, Commonwealth Governments and international agencies better appreciate the value of open and distance learning, including the use of learning technologies, in not just the tertiary sector but also in basic education, open schooling, teacher training, technical/vocational education and training, continuing professional education, literacy and values education, as well as in a variety of non-formal situations.
The Commonwealth of Learning has been able to achieve so much with so little because it has succeeded in doing what a Commonwealth agency should do - tapping the Commonwealth's rich talent-pool to assist the Commonwealth.
In 1997, when Commonwealth Ministers of Education met in Botswana, we had the privilege of presenting to them a Three-year Plan for 1997-2000, which was warmly endorsed and received pledges of support. We now take even greater pleasure in noting that a major portion of the core projects set for implementation was carried out. Over 150 projects in total, were completed and 78% of the core-funding targets were realised. These projects were undertaken with cash and in-kind contributions to COL of approximately CDN$ 29.9 million.
These results justify Commonwealth Government's conviction that the agency gives sufficient value to merit their continued support. During the three years, 35 countries made untied cash contributions and they, as well as others, also provided in-kind contributions in a variety of ways. Many development agencies also provided direct support for specific projects.
Encouraged by this support, along with the potential growth and application of open and distance learning in the technologically rich environment of the new decade, we are presenting a new and modestly ambitious plan for the next three years (2000-2003). It shifts the agency's focus a little and in so doing positions it to exploit the assets of the knowledge era to add value to the Commonwealth's aspirations to develop its human capital.
The Plan's strategic focus is on four core roles for COL:
- as a catalyst for collaborative action;
- as a resource for training;
- as a capacity builder; and
- as an information and knowledge provider.
Each of these themes is based upon and builds on COL's work over the last ten years. At the same time, each responds to new global challenges. Planned initiatives over the next three years will also position the agency to become an even greater Commonwealth asset for the decades ahead.
As in the past, this Three-year Plan was developed with the support of Commonwealth colleagues over a period of 18 months. We have consulted governments, non-governmental organisations, education institutions and individuals.
In keeping with what Heads of Government endorsed during their meeting in Durban last year, we now present to Commonwealth Ministers of Education, for their approval and support, a Plan that will require a collective commitment from member Governments of CDN$ 9 million per year for the next three years. That Heads of Government have already concurred with this figure makes us confident that the target will be met. That, along with the ongoing collaboration of Ministry staff and educational institutions, makes us equally confident that we can deliver on all aspects of the Plan in the service of the Commonwealth.
On behalf of the Board of Governors of The Commonwealth of Learning,
Dr. H. Ian Macdonald, O.C.
Chairman, Board of Governors
Dato' Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan
President & Chief Executive Officer
